@AuManufacturing Conversations

@AuManufacturing Conversations with Brent Balinski is a regular interview program, bringing you discussions with the men and women who are contributing to a critical part of the economy -- one that leads private sector R&D investment, employs well over a million Australians, and is just plain important to have around, as we’ve all been reminded in recent years. We hope to capture something of the variety to manufacturing, its place in the nation, its changing nature, and some of the personalities within it. From the boutique to the billion dollar, if it's manufacturing and it's Australian, then it likely matters to us. This podcast is an extension of the @AuManufacturing news and analysis website and the community around it, and aims to complement what's written online at www.aumanufacturing.com.au.

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@AuManufacturing Conversations

Episode 94 -- Steve Milanoski from the Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility

June 27, 2024 • @AuManufacturing • Season 3 • Episode 16

Our guest in this episode of @AuManufacturing Conversations is Steve Milanoski, Director, Manufacturing Technology at the NSW Government's Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility.

Steve tells us about the AMRF's goals for lifting technology adoption and skills among companies, the need for a Australia to have a manufacturing development institute, and some lessons from a career in contract manufacturing in Australia and as an Additive Engineer at SpaceX before moving here.

The AMRF was a sponsor of our recent Australia's 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers campaign. @AuManufacturing is in planning for our next iteration of the campaign, with a planned launch in November. If you're interested in learning more about sponsoring or entering, please get in touch.

Episode guide

1:05 – Personal background – Navy then school then SpaceX then Australia.

3:50 – Moving to Australia and ending up in Western Sydney.

5:20 – Director of Manufacturing Technology for just over a year at AMRF.

8:02 – Choices made in investing in equipment for the facility.

9:40 – Why a ply cutter is relevant.

11:48 – What Milanoski has noticed about the Australian manufacturing context in his time here.

14:35 – How the AMRF might work with SMEs.

16:20 - What it plans to offer larger companies.

17:50 – The possibilities for coaching manufacturing staff versus some other options.

20:22 – Buying machines is the easy part, but public facilities use them in different ways. The focus is on production, not fundamental research.

22:08 – Qualifying additively manufactured parts in Australia.

24:40 – Some further observations on AM in Australia and what the success stories demonstrate. “It’s always going to be dominated by the application.”

26:35 – Having an AM solution rather than an AM problem.

27:52 – One of the last pieces of equipment we’re purchasing is a large-format CT scanner. And that’s because it’s not commercially available in Australia.”

29:30 – Some observations on current skills shortages and how to address these.

People on this episode

Brent Balinski

Host